The Ministry of Health’s proposal to appoint Robert Giovanni Nisticò as president of the Italian Medicines Agency (Aifa) received the approval of the Regions and was ratified by the State-Regions Conference. The psychiatrist and professor of Pharmacology, appointed after the resignation of Giorgio Palù, is therefore the new President of the Agency. “We wish good luck to the new Italian Medicines Agency and to Robert Giovanni Nisticò, new President of the regulatory agency. The skills and professional background of Prof. Nisticò, who has already held important roles in the field of drug regulatory affairs, will certainly be important for the NHS and, in particular, for patients affected by cancer who need access to effective therapies in a short time. We are ready to collaborate profitably with the new AIFA, to guarantee all patients the best assistance”, stated Francesco Perrone, National President of AIOM (Italian Association of Medical Oncology).
Difficult challenges
“The challenges that the regulatory agency is called to face in the coming months – explains Francesco Perrone – are very difficult, from rapid and equitable access throughout the territory to new therapies, to the sustainability of the healthcare system”. “Tumors – continues President Perrone – are increasingly becoming chronic pathologies thanks to effective drugs in addition to surgery and radiotherapy. We hope that reasonably short times will be guaranteed for access to new therapies and that independent research will be relaunched, completing the tender published last April and launching new tenders”.
“We also wish good work to the Scientific Director Pierluigi Russo, who in recent years has shown attention to issues related to oncology and the needs of patients affected by cancer, and to the members of the new single scientific-economic commission of the drug – concludes President Perrone -, starting from Prof. Lara Nicoletta Angela Gitto”.